What's going on with my Venus?

[RicciardoPerez]

Hello. New to VFTs. Bought this one tail end of last year and it's been sat in this little bowl with rain water, in the porch. It's suddenly started sprouting this long stalk?! Not sure what it is!

I've been trimming off any black wilted traps and leaves as they occur.

Lots of little traps growing too so will be repotting it this weekend into a bigger pot and move to the kitchen window.

Can I also ask if ericaceous compost is best for planting?

Bump

It's going to flower, well for keeping it that healthy, mine only ever last a couple of months!

I read to cut off any flowers - should I?

No idea, mine always die! @Nanthewiser is the person to ask.

I count myself as a pretty good gardener but VFT beat me every time (if you can call slowly, reproachfully dying “beating me”).

I would leave the first flower then you can see what they’re like

You need a low nutrient compost, pure un-enriched peat if you have any, or sphagnum moss. Make sure there’s no fertiliser in it. If you can’t get hold of either, then leave it in-the same pot for a while.

Definitely a flower stem coming. Usually VFTs go into dormancy over winter, but not when grown in the warmer conditions indoors. Some growers advise cutting off the flower stem to prevent all the plant’s energy going into the flower, but you might want to see what the flower looks like, as @MereDintofPandiculation wrote, plus her advice on growing media.

Thanks all :)

Still growing